Machine j



J. E. HAMACHECK MACHINE 'FOR REMOVING SCALE FROM METAL STRIPS ND SHEETS Jan. 17, 1928.

Mk W ,m N m m H J 4 m M T T A natc the necessity for pickling, with a means which exerts Patented Jan. 17, 1 928.

UNITED STATES PATENT. QFFLICE...

JULIUS E. HAMACHECK, OF TWO RIVERS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO A. '0. SMITH CORPOBATFCON, OF MILW'AUKEE, WISCQNSIN, A 'OOR PGB-ATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR REIVIOVING- SCALE FROM lviETlsL STRIPS AND Application filed July 13,

ne surfaces of metal strips and sheets as they emerge from, the. rolling mills are immediately covered with n' inute scales formed by oxidizat-ion, and which on account of. their very'great hardness act with a destructive abrasive effect upon the tools used in the subsequentworking operations upon the material. As a result of this condition, the tools become worn and their usefulness is greatly innpaired, unless the strips or sheets are first treated so as to ren'iove the scales tl'ierefrorn.

It is the customary practice to treat iron and steel. strips and sheets by the well known acid pickling operation, for the purpose of removing the scales. However, at its best, the pickling operation is attei'uled with some extremely disagreeable conditions, anl l have sought to overcome the objectionable situation by the production of mechanical devices for effectively removing the scales from the strips and sheets, and thus elimiall of its disadvantages and objections. l l. have constructed a marhine which achieves the result desired, that is, the relnoral from the strips and sheets of the incrustations which act with destructive effect upon the tools with which the strips or sheets are subsequently treated.

in carrying out my invention, I provide a concentrated pressure upon every point embraced within the surface of the strips or sheets, with the rc suit that the scales which are formed upon the surface at the time of rolling the metal, are broken and loosened by the pressure exerted, so as to be easily removed therefrom.

The invention has been embodied in a rotating head, upon the under side of which. arranged aseries of very hard n'ictal balls, which latter are adapted to bear upon and traverse the surface of the strip or sheetwith a grinding action. Means are provided for exerting the necessary degree of pres sure of the balls upon the surface of the strip or sheet, which latter fed by a continuous movement, and the line of which is repeatedly traversed by the balls in rapid suclcssion. Means are also provided for automatically adjusting the pressure exerted by the grinding. head, to compensatefor inequalities on the surface of the strip or sheet.

During the periods of rotation of the head 1923. Serial No. 651,440.

carrying the scale breaking balls, water is caused to flow over the surface of the strip orsheetin the area of the grinding opera tic-n, with the result that the broken and detached scales are wash'edfro'm. thesurfacc of the strip or sheet, and the latter emerges from the machine with the surface clean and smooth, and in condition for working by the tools without damage thereto.

Having thus outlined the nature and purposes of my inventioml will now describe the apparatus particularly, and point out the novelty of the invention in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, loolc 'ing across the path of movement of the strip or sheet, and showing my .mechanism, in operative position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the center of the grinding head, looking from um riglit'of Figure 1. I Fig. 3 an inverted plan vicw of a sector of the flat annulus or cage of the grinding head showing the manner in which. the grinding balls are carried therein. Fig. 41 is a vertical sectional view showing amodilication of the manner of supporting the grinding balls in the annulus or cage of the grinding head. I I

In the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a cross bar or bridge of the frame of a machine in which my improvement is embodied,

and the numeral 11, the bed thereof. The bed 11 may be reciprocated as is usual in ordinary metal planer constructions or it may be endless in form with capacity'for a constantly forward feedinginovement; but preferably the reciprocating bed is used.

Secured in relatively fixed position upon the cross bar or bridge 10 is a bracket 12, upon the face of which a slide 13 is secured and is guided for vertical movement. A screw shaft 14.- journaled in the bracket 12 engages a nut 15 formed upon the slide 13.. By means of a hand wheel 16, fixedupon the screw shaft 14, the slide 13 may be nioved for the purposes of vertical adjustment;

Near its ends, the slide 13 is providedwith I said shaft 19 bemounted so as to have a limited axial movement in its bearings, independent of the vertical adjustment effected through the screw shaft 14 and the nut 15.

The lower end of the shaft 19, shown in Fig. 2 as somewhatreduced, is threaded or otherwise secured in an opening in a sphere 21, which is embraced by a correspondingly hollowed bearing arranged centrally of the rotating grinding head. The connection thus described as existing between the shaft 19 and the grinding head constitutes a universal joint by means of which the grinding head has a latitude of rocking movement which will permit the lower and active surface thereof to adapt itself with respect to any inequalities which may appear on the surface of the strip or sheet being cleaned.

The grinding head is composed of an annular shell 22 havin an idle or floating movement, and provided at its lower edge with an intur'ned flange forming a cage or annulus 23, extending and standing normally in a direction which is parallel to the surface of the metal strips or sheet. The'said flange 23 is perforated for the reception of the grinding balls 24, which have a diameter exceeding somewhat the thickness of the flange 23, so as to project above and below the latter. The balls 24 may be variously distributed throughout the flange 23, but should be in such numbers as to insure every point in the area of the metal strip orsheet being traversed by the balls in the combined rotation of the grinding head and the feeding movement of the metal strip or sheet.

The balls 24 may be mounted in wear resisting bushings in the flange, and may be arranged in circles. concentric with the axis of the shaft 19, or otherwise. The bushings are compressed so asto constrict the opening at the ends thereof and retain the balls for free rotation without liability to fall out of position. Inasmuch as the balls 24 travel in a circular orbit, itfollows that every point of the surface of the strip or sheet is subjected to repeated grinding operations, as the strip or sheet is passed thereunder.

The socket in whichthe ball point 21 is received is composed of twoparts 25 and 26, both of which may be lined with an antifriction material 27. The upper socketed part 25 is provided in the line of its largest diameter with a circular flange 28, and the lower socketed part 26, with a web 29, the two parts being clamped together to enclose the sphere 21 by means of bolts 30, a packing ring 31 being interposed to'make a water tight joint. Keys 32, arranged axially with respect to the shaft 19, engage seats in the ball 21 and the part 25, so that in the rotation of the shaft 19, the movement thereof is transmitted to the socketed construction. The web 29 is perforated as at 33 for a purpose which will be described, and beyond the perforations is provided with an up-standing annular flange or wall 34 extending toward the axis of the shaft 19, and

. also with a rim which extends vertically with relation to the said shaft. An exterior ring 36 is secured to the rim 35, by means of bolts 37. The lower face of the rim 35 is formed with a circular recess which with an inward projection on the ring 36 constitutes a dovetail circular groove, in which is placed the correspondingly formed base of a friction device formed as a rubber ring 33, or of other material, the face of which is adapted to bear upon the balls 24 carried by the inturned flange 23 of the shell 22. The ruber ring 38 is of sufficient density to cause a firm engagement with the balls 24, so that the latter are caused to rotate freely and wit iout frictional wear between the rubber ring and the metal strip or sheet which is to be cleaned. Such movement of the balls effects a rotation of the idle or floating shell 22 at the speed of rotation of the shaft 19. Pins 38 set in'the lower face of the rim 35, engage the ring 38, to prevent creeping of the latter.

In order to support the said shell 22 in its position as a part of the grinding head, I have provided a circular plate 39 having a rim 4O threaded eXteriorly for engagement with the threaded interior of the shell 22, the

parts being connected by ,means of screw pins 41, set in the rim 40 and engaging suit able perforations 42 in the upper edge of the shell 22. The hub of the circular plate 39 is supported upon an annular shoulder formed exteriorly of the socketed part by means of an interposed anti-friction hearing 43, so as to facilitate the easy movement of the shell 22.

The plate-39 is provided with perforations 44, which may correspond to the perforations 33 in the web 29 of the lower SOClIGtQCl member 26. Attached to the upper face of the plate 39, so as to include the perforations 44, is a ring shaped dam 45 open at its upper end, and at the under side of the plate 39 is attached a ring shaped deflector 46, the lower edge of which extends to a line within the opening of the up-standing annular flange 34. The parts and 46 are secured to the plate 39 by means of bolts 47. A circular disc 48 is attached to the under side of the lower socketed part 26- the llU lill

the sheet will. be covered.

ing collar 5l thrcaded upon the shaft. The flexible coupling retains the grinding head in its normal position of operation While cleaning smooth surfaced strips or sheets, but will yield in order to permit the grinding head to adjust itself to any inequalities on the surface of the strip or sheet which may he encountered during the grinding operation.

For thepurpose of exerting pressure upon the grinding head and holding the balls 24. of the head up to their Work, I have provided pressure devices comprising a cap 52 Which is placed upon the upper end of the shaft 19, with an anti-friction bearing between the cap 52 and a flange 54*. on the end of the shaft 19. A lever 55 pivoted at to the slide 13, and bearing upon the cap carries a counterweight 57, which. may be adjusted on the bar, When any change in the pressure is desired.

A movement of rotation may be imparted to the shaft 19 by any suitable means. I have found it convenient to arrange a sprocket Wheel 58 upon the shaft ll) and to drive the same through a chain. This arrangement permits vertical adjustment of the slide 13 and the grinding head Without interfering With the driving connections.

In. operation,Water is introduced over the top of the dam l5 and passes down through the openings it and 33 and over the dished. edge of the disc 4.8, at the time that the feeding movement of the plate is instituted. The high. speed oftl'ie disc 48 in the rotation of: the grinding head, produces a heavy splash of the water upon the surfaces of the strip or sheet being cleaned, with the result that the scales 'whicl'rare brokenloy the action of the grinding halls are Washed away by the rush of the Water and the plate is left clean.

in the angle of the shell 22, passages 58 may liie' n'ovidcd forattaining a better distrilnition of the water over the strip or sheet.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, 1 have illustra ed my invention in connection with the cleaning of a metal strip the latter being shown as arranged between guides (50 and 61 upon the traveling bed 1.1 of the machine. For

the purpose of cleaning strips, a single grinding head will be sufficient. But if sheet material of a width exceeding the operating zone oi: a single grinding head is to be cleaned, it will be necessary to duplicate the mechanism in the required number. In some instances, it will be sufiicient to apply a cond cleaning; mechanism to the opposite he of the cross bar 10, and so position it that the zones in which the grinding heads OpOl'ittQ will slightly overlap at the margins of their paths, so that'the Whole surface of With greater Widths of sheets, two of the grinding heads may be arrrane ed on one side of the cross bar 10, and spaced from each other, With a of its purposes, and although I have illuss trated one specific form of construction, I do not intendto be limited. thereto. It is obvious that, modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit-of my invention as expressed by the scope of my claims, and although I have shown the actuating shaft 19 as disposed vertically and the finding head operating in a horizontal plane, it is clear that my invention not to be limited to such an. arrangement. The sha t may be arranged horizontally and the grinding head may operate in. a vertical plane. This will permit the sheets-to be fed while standing on edge. An advantage which would follow from the treatment of the sheets While in a vertical position lies in the fact that the flow of the Water downwardly over the surfaces thereof r-iould the more effectively Wash such surfaces clear of the loosened. scale.

- in some classes of work the lever 55 and the coiu'itoriveight 5'? may be omitted, innsmuch as the weight of the grinding, head and its associated parts is sufficient to exert the necessary degree of pressure upon theballs. It is not always essential to the practice of my invention that the flange 23 be formed integrally as ring, but the same may be divided into sectors, as indicated. by the line (52 in Fig.3. T his arrangement will. provide for a greaterdegree of flexibility in the movement of the balls as a Whole, in case the surface of the. strip. or sheet to be secured is deflected more than usual.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modification in the manner of i'nounting the grinding balls 24%;, in the perforations in the ring; or i'lango 23, by means of which the pressure of he said balls ipon the surface of the strip or sheet is increased, and they are caused to enter more deeply into any depressions which may be presented. The arrow indicates the direction of movement of the balls. The rear wall of the perforations receiving the ball isinclined, as at 63, at an angle of about 10 and the upper and lower spread of the metal to retain the balls is omittedfor about one-half of the circumference of the perforation, coincident with the inclined Wall. This construction will provide for an increased transverse movement of the balls in the cage, and permit them to drop into the depressions in the surface of the strip or sheet, under the resilient pressure of the friction devicede. The inclined wall (33 of the perforation serves to exert an increased angular pressure upon the ball, causing it to engage the surface of the strip or sheet and more effectively break and loosen the scale.

ill

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1; In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a grinding head, and means for rotating the same, the said head carrying upon its face a plurality'of hardened metal balls for engagin the mate rial being cleaned,.and a perforated rotatable ring in which the balls are supported for free rotation.

2. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a grinding head having upon its face a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls for engaging the surface of the material being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon, means between the head and the balls for exerting yielding pressure upon the balls, and means for rotating the head.

In a machine for cleaning scale from metal. strips and sheets, a rotating shaft, a

grinding head and a ball and socket connection between the shaft and the head, the said head being provided on its face with a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls for engaging the surface of the material being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon.

4:. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotating shaft and a grinding head mounted thereon for rocking movement, the said grinding head carrying a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls for engaging the surface of the material being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon.

In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotatingshaft having on its end a ball, a grinding head provided with a socketfor receiving the ball so as to permit rocking movement of the said head with relation to the shaft, a shell loosely supported upon the socket construction and carrying a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls, and friction means carried with the socketed construction for imparting rotation to the balls to cause the latter to ei'igage the surface of the material being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon.

6. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotating shaft having a ball on one end thereof, a grinding head provided with a socket in which the ball received and permitting rocking movement thereon, the saidgrinding head carrying .a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls for engaging the surface of the material being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon, and flexible means between the shaft and the grinding head for'maintaining the latter in a normal operating position.

7. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotating shaft having a ball on one end thereof, a grinding head provided with a socket embracing the ball and permitting rocking movement of the grinding head with relation to the shaft, and a flexible coupling .interposed between the shaft and the grinding head to maintain the latter in a normal position for operation;

8. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotating shaft having a. ball on one end thereof, agrinding head provided with a socket embracing the ball, a shell mounted loosely upon the socketed construction and carrying a plu- ,rality of freely rotating hardened metal balls for contact with the surface of the material to be treated, a web attached to the socketed construction and carrying friction means for engaging the plurality of balls to effect their rotation over the surface of the material, and the movement of the shell therewith.

9. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a shaft, a grinding head rotating therewith and carrying a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls for contact with the surface of the material to be treated, and means Within the head for distributing water over the surface of the material being treated during the grinding operation to wash the loosened scale from the surface of'the said material.

10. In amachine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotating shaft, a grinding head thereon, the latter comprising a shell supporting a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls, and friction means rotating with the shaft for effecting rolling movement of the balls over the surface being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon.

11. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotating shaft, a grinding head thereon, the latter comprising a shell supporting a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls, and friction means rotating with the shaft for effecting rolling movement of the halls over the surface being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon, and means within the grinding head for distributing water to wash the loosened scales from the surface of the material being treated.

12. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a slide and means for vertically adjusting the same, a rotatable shaft journalled in the slide and having upon its lower end a grinding head carrying a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls, and means for exerting pressure upon the shaft to engage the balls with the surface of the material being treated to loosen the scale thereon.

13. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotating shaft and Ill a grinding head mounted thereon, the said grinding head comprising a loosely supported or floating shell carrying a plurality of -freely rotatinghardened metal balls and friction means for rolling the. halls over the surjt'ace of the material being treated to re move the scale therefrom.

141:. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal. strips and sheets, a rotating shaft and a grinding head thereon, such grinding head compris' means tor supporting a plurality of freely rotating hardened. metal balls, and f. .ietion means driven by the shaft for rolls ing the balls over the surface of the material being cle:.med to loosen the scale thereon.

15. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a plurality of hardened metal balls positioned to bear upon the siu'tace of the strip or sheet to be cleaned, means contacting With the halls for exerting yielding pressure upon the said balls and means for effecting free rotative movement of the said balls over the surface 01'' the strip or sheet While under pressure.

1(5. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a grinding head carrying upon its face a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls for engaging the surface of the material being cleaned to loosen the scale thereon, and means for retating the, head to impart a planetary movement to the balls.

17. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets a rotatable head means thereon for supporting a plurality of freely rotating hardened metal balls, and means for exerting pressure upon the balls to loosen the scale on the surface of the material being treated, means to rotate the head and impart a planetary movement to the balls. 7 i

18. In a machine for cleaning scale from metal strips and sheets, a rotatable shaft mounted for axial movement, a head rotating "i.|;h the shaft and carrying a plurality of freely rotatable hardened metal balls, a rocking connection between the shaft and the head for positioning the balls to compensate for uneven surfaces, and pressure means for moving the shaft axially to engage the balls with the surface of the material being treated to loosen the scale thereon.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name at Milwaukee, this 22nd day of June, 1923.

J. E. I-IAMACHECK. 

